Home Office Requested to Look Into Scottish Green MP’s Student Visa Policies
Concerns that recently elected Scottish Green MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) Q Manivannan may have violated the terms of their student visa while serving as a Member of the Scottish Parliament have prompted the UK Home Office to look into the matter.
Manivannan, who was elected last week to represent Edinburgh and the Lothians East regional list in the Scottish Parliament, may not be able to lawfully carry out the responsibilities of an MSP due to the limitations associated with a UK student visa, according to the Scottish Conservatives.
Manivannan is of Indian descent, non-binary, and uses they/them pronouns. She describes herself as a “queer Tamil immigrant.” They have indicated that they are seeking for a graduate visa and a global talent visa in order to continue working and staying in the UK during their parliamentary career, even though they are currently residing in Scotland on a student visa.
In a letter to UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr has asked for an inquiry into whether Manivannan’s election campaign and parliamentary responsibilities violate immigration laws.
Kerr contended that while the position of an MSP is generally recognised as a rigorous full-time job, student visa holders are often limited to working a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time.
Kerr stated, “I’m calling on the Home Office to look into this case because I can’t see how Q Manivannan can fulfil the duties of an MSP without breaking the strict terms under which a student visa is issued.”
Additionally, he asserted that it was “almost certain” that Manivannan worked longer hours than was allowed during the election campaign.
In response to the criticism, Manivannan stated that regulations permitting anyone with the legal right to reside in the UK, including those with a visa, to run for office had been overwhelmingly adopted by all Holyrood MSPs.
They added that they had finished their viva and grant-funded PhD, enabling them to work full-time as long as their present visa is still valid.
Manivannan declared, “I am proud of who I am and my heritage.” “I am also proud to speak up for immigrants and those with visas who are frequently left out of national discourse.”
An MSP: What is it?
One of the 129 elected members holding office in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh is known as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). MSPs are typically regarded as full-time employees who split their time between constituency duties and parliamentary work.
MSP Pay and Workload
As of 2026, an MSP’s base yearly income is roughly £77,711. Ministers, committee conveners, and other top positions are eligible for additional compensation. MSPs frequently work weekends and evenings after regular business hours.
Issues with Student Visas
International students are often restricted to 20 hours of employment per week during academic term time under UK immigration regulations. Opponents contend that this might be at odds with the heavy workload that an MSP is required to perform. After completing their education, graduates can switch to visas like the Global Talent or Graduate visas, both of which allow full-time employment in the UK.
Scottish Greens’ support
Gillian Mackay, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens, stated on BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show that Manivannan would need to submit a fresh visa application during the parliamentary session. Mackay stated that the party would assist them in every manner possible and that she did not believe getting a visa would be an issue. According to the BBC, the Scottish Greens are optimistic that Manivannan’s MSP salary, which is little less than £80,000, will make getting a new visa easier.